Friday, 8 November 2013

BREAKING NEWS: Heavy fighting rocks Libyan capital

Libya's government is finding it tough to contain former fighters in a country awash with weapons [AP]

Rival armed groups have clashed for
hours across Tripoli, sending residents fleeing for cover and killing at
least one person and wounding 12 in the worst fighting for months in
the Libyan capital.
The second outbreak of street fighting within days shows how the
government is struggling to contain the armed groups that
helped overthrow Muammar Gaddafi two years ago but kept their guns after
the NATO-backed uprising.
The clashes erupted after the leader of an armed group, Nuri Friwan,
died from his wounds after he was shot on Tuesday at a checkpoint manned
by fighters from Soug al-Jomaa, an eastern Tripoli district.
Dozens of armed men, some riding in pickup trucks mounted
with anti-aircraft guns and others with rocket propelled grenades came
from the western city of Misrata to avenge his death and attack a rival
group in Tripoli, witnesses said.
Gunfire broke out while young people were enjoying a water pipe on
the seafront and families were shopping or dining at the start of the
weekend.
Toyota trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns arrived in several
parts of Tripoli, opening fire as they tried to storm Soug al-Jomaat,
witnesses said. Panicked diners ran for cover, while drivers abandoned
their cars.
The Radisson Blu, one of Tripoli's best hotels, evacuated some
frightened guests after windows in the reception area were smashed by
stray gunfire, an employee said.
Rival groups fired rocket-propelled grenades at the attackers from a bridge, witnesses said. Heavy shootingcould be also heard in at least three other districts close to the foreign ministry, state television building and embassies.
Gunmen were seen loading anti-aircraft guns mounted on trucks near the ministry.Government struggles
When Libyan leader Mouammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in
October 2011, the rebels were hailed as heroes for bringing an end to
more than four decades of his rule.
But since then, they have formed armed groups with different ideologies and motivations.
Many factions have rejected the government's demands to turn in their
weapons or join the national security forces, and a patchwork of armed
groups effectively controls much of the country.Libya's government is finding it harder to contain the former fighters in a country awash with weapons.